Della is five!

And Della is magic…

High school teacher and girlfriend extraordinaire Nicki visited the valley this past week. 

Nicki did all the things. Horse feeding…

Tractor posing…

Nordic skiing…

Alpine skiing…

General adventuring and risk-taking…

And also care-taking.

Paul was also very tender.

Della was waiting to turn 5.

George was tired of being 3.

Paul was forced into giving them both haircuts with dull scissors mid-breakfast.

Paul and Nicki, we thank you for visiting us, and we hope you’ll soon come back.

Della: “I’m a worrier. I worry about things I don’t understand. Like, I’m worried about Groundhog’s Day. I worry about a lot of things.”

She has expressed concerns since learning about the holiday in school. “There is a holiday you didn’t tell me about?” “What if a bad groundhog comes and ruins the day?” “I’m worried that there will be more winter and I don’t want there to be more winter.” “I’m shy of groundhogs.”

I told her: it’s just a story; he’s not always right; it’s not an important holiday; I don’t even think about Groundhog’s Day; you can just live your life and not concern yourself with this.

Here we are cross-country skiing with Liz and Paul on the lake, not looking the least bit worried about groundhogs.